Once on Broadway- Page 3

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:07am

Since this show is so addictive the box office should come up with a frequent visitor punch card. Every so many times you see the show you get a free ticket.

The Houston run of Forever Plaid at the Alley did exactly that. You could trade in your ticket stubs for various merchandise or a free ticket. Once they found out they had a lot of repeat visitors, they started encouraging the trend and it worked very well.

So we're talking about something great and exceptional here. And something that great and exceptional should run without stars.

You're absolutely right. Which is why Follies will never be great or exceptional to anyone. It can't even recoup WITH stars. And it's great to finally have one definitive opinion that invalidates all others, which used to be an impossibility, but not any more! Viva la censorship! Now that we've banned the use of "glorious" and "spellbinding" from any description or genuine feelings others may have with this show, we can finally free ourselves up from independent thought entirely. What a relief! I haven't seen the show yet but please, tell me how I'm feeling right now. You don't have to know anything about me or my life or my tastes or preferences. Just tell me what I think about everything I see and experience. I just want to know if I've been wrong all my life because you say so.

PS - For everyone else who has seen Once...please use every positive superlative you can to describe this show, especially if you feel it's true. Do it as often as you can. Obviously, you have no right to do so, but wouldn't it be fun to see what happens?

Updated On: 2/29/12 at 10:07 AM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:09am

I saw the show three times Off Broadway and absolutely adored it. Glad to hear that it hasn't lost that intimacy in the transfer.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:14am

Michael Bennett - Can't you READ?!?! You did NOT "absolutely enjoy it". It is a bore and a chore. I haven't even seen it and even I know that.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:23am

Due to the negative reaction some are having to this idea, After Eight and I are compiling three lists -- words that can only be used when a show is good enough to be liked, words that can only be used when a show is good enough to be loved, and words that can only be used when a show is both one of the best shows ever written, as well as in no danger of not succeeding on its merits. (At least we can all recognize and agree on which are which, except for those few jerks who pretend they don't. Why? I don't know. Because some people are unpleasant. Anyway, so we've got that going for us.)

We're thinking of drawing the lines between "enjoyable" and "great" and then "awesome" and "glorious," respectively.

It will be posted as soon as it's published in the "Workers World" newsletter.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:27am

Mister Matt- Very cool about Forever Plaid. Once is the type of show that will develop an instant cult following, and it would be wonderful if the producers could foster that with a similar program.

AfterEight- Caroline, Or Change, Grey Gardens and Passing Strange were all spellbinding and exceptional and they couldn't find an audience without stars.

Wicked does have a star (The Wizard of Oz connection) much like Mamma Mia (ABBA) and Jersey Boys have stars (Four Seasons). Avenue Q ran on the Tony win for Best Musical, just like In The Heights and Spring Awakening did.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:02am

Grey Gardens was actually going to be my first example, ljay. So thank you. Caroline, or Change was excellent as well. I'd also add Side Show to that list.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:05am

It doesn't matter. After Eight has decreed it's no good, so it's no good. Once it is written, it is done. I hereby amend my memories and my opinions of the show I witnessed. It was boring and was an absolute chore to sit through.

In fact, most of the shows I see are terrible.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:05am

I am so thrilled to hear how wonderful everyone thinks it is. I am seeing it on 3/14 and going in knowing almost nothing. Never heard the score or seen the movie and all I'm going off of are the few clips here and there. I am loving those and cannot wait to experience this show.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:39am

I haven't seen it yet, but it's pretty awful, actually.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:49am

I had tickets for ONCE but after reading this, I used them for toilet paper. I guess I deserved the scratches I got on my for my spending the money on them in the first place.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:56am

On your what? On your what?! I'm DYING!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 11:57am

Interesting. It censored the word ASS. But yes, my ASS.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:02pm

Please title your memoirs "Scratches I Got On My For My Spending the Money."

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:04pm

If you insist. I was going to call it "Riding the elevator with Liza Minnelli" since we always seem to end up in one together, but that seems like a better title.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:05pm

"AfterEight- Caroline, Or Change, Grey Gardens and Passing Strange were all spellbinding and exceptional and they couldn't find an audience without stars."


I guess more people than not did not find them to be so.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:05pm

"Riding the Bus with Liza Minelli's Sister."

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:06pm

I've been in a car with Lorna, but never the bus. Lol

[bjh2114]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:09pm

I guess more people than not did not find them to be so.

Or more people than not were not even interested in the subject matter, so they didn't buy tickets in the first place...

[Kad]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:13pm

No. If a show isn't commercially successful, it's not a quality show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:15pm

Tell that to TARZAN

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:17pm

**gathering up Liza Minnelli and Lorna Luft's names from the ground**

Here, Jordan, I think you dropped these.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:19pm

Lol. No, I threw them on the ground.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:19pm

But then, there are also shows that ARE successful, but aren't quality.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:21pm

Sorry, Kad. The converse is not necessarily true, and counterexamples aren't allowed, anyway. Those are the two new rules from just now.

[maxximumvolume2]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:54pm

Hmm. So if the quality of art is determined only on its financial success (which must mean more people than not find it good), then we can all agree that The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and Transformers: Dark of the Moon were the best films of 2011.

I guess NCIS and Two and a Half Men are also the best shows on television.

Fantastic!